India At Glance - Top 10 Most Visited Places in India

The Indian subcontinent is huge and diverse. Numerous religions, ethos, customs, traditions, food, languages, castes etc have made India unique and diverse. The country is renowned worldwide for being culturally rich and vivid.

If you'd like to explore beyond India's popular tourist attractions, here are 10 of the Best Places to Visit in India to inspire you!

Taj Mahal

Agra is the most visited city in India, since it is home to one of the greatest eternal symbols of love-Taj Mahal. This white domed marble mausoleum is one of the Seven Wonders of the World and has an epic love story behind it. Commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan who erected this monument in memory of his beloved wife, Arjumarid Bano Begum; popularly known as Mumtaz Mahal, who died in A.H. 1040 (A.D. 1630). Mumtaz Mahal last wish to her husband was "to build a tomb in her memory such as the world had never seen before".

Fatehpur Sikri, Agra Fort, Akbar's tomb, Ram Bagh and Sikandra fort are some of the must visit places in Agra, apart from Taj Mahal.

Kashmir

A land of anomalies, Kashmir is most definitely a paradise on earth with its snow-capped mountains and scenic landscape. Kashmir is a destination worth visiting, during winter season where you can enjoy the boat ride on picturesque Dal Lake. It is encircled by three mountain ranges of the Himalayas : Karakoram, Zanaskar and Pir Panjal, from northwest to northeast.

Nothing describes the beauty of Kashmir better than the following words of Mughal empror Jehangir said it when he visited Kashmir in the 17th century - ďGar firdaus bar-rue zamin ast, hamin asto, hamin asto, hamin ast.Ē means "If there is a heaven on earth, itís here, itís here, itís here.Ē Major attractions are Gulmarg, Srinagar, Sonmarg, Nagin Lake, Pari Mahal, Shankracharya shrine and Pehalgam.

Goa

Goa is one of the most well known tourist destinations in India. A tiny green land surrounded by azure waters on the West Coast of India, with its natural picturesque beauty, attractive beaches and famous architectural temples, grand parties and festivals and its rich Anglo-Indian heritage is a great attraction for all tourists.The most important places of interests are the beaches of Goa which are filled with millions of tourists every year as visitors all over the world flock to this natural paradise to bathe in the pleasant sun and crystal clear azure-green waters of the sea. One of the best ways to see all that Goa India has to offer is by hiring a motorbike or scooter, and exploring at leisure.

Kanyakumari

Kanyakumari lies in the southern most tip of Peninsular India, is famous for its majestic hills, virgin beaches, pristine rivers and meandering rivulets. Kanyakumari which is also known as Cape Comorin is the place where the three humungous water bodies namely, Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal meet up. Kanyakumari has been one of the major centers of arts, culture and religion since the ancient times. The cityís beaches are also the only beaches in the world where you can experience both sunrise and the sunset. The various temples in this beautiful city of Tamil Nadu are frequented by thousands of pilgrims and the pristine beaches attract a huge no. of tourists to the city.

Jaipur and Udaipur

Jaipur and Udaipur, located in Rajasthan gives us an insight into the rich cultural and artistic traditions of the state. The picturesque heritage city fo Jaipur was chosen as the capital of the new state of Rajastan, the land of the kings, which was created after India's independence by merging the princely states of region. Udaipur is known as the city of lakes and is also one of the most romantic cities in Rajasthan. It is situalated 420 km from Jaipur.

Kerala

Kerala, the "God's Own Country" is among the most favorite and popular tourist spots. Peaceful beaches, composed climate, lush green hill stations, serene stretches of backwaters, and exotic wildlife are the most sought after attractions of this land. This coastal state is rich in distinctive traditions and culture, and lush unspoiled tropical beauty. Kerala is known for its elephants, elaborate temple festivals, and the tranquil backwaters. Munnar, Thekkady, Wayanad, Athirapally waterfalls, Varkala beach and Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple are the most preferred tourist destinations in Kerala.

Delhi

Delhi, the capital of India has a strong historical background. It was ruled by some of the most powerful emperors in Indian history. The historical capital of Pandavas used be called with name of Indraprastha in period of Mahabharata was here found within the stricture of Purana Quila during 1000 BC. The India Gate, Lotus Temple, Jama Masjid, Rashtrapati Bhavan -the official residence of the President of India and Qutub Minar- a World Heritage Site are the most visited destinations in New Delhi.

Darjeeling

Darjeeling is a town in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is located in the Lesser Himalaya at an average elevation of 6,710 ft. Because it was a popular hill station during the days of the Raj, a lovely Victorian town was built among the Himalayan foothills. The main attractions are the cultural diversity, the beautiful views (including the wonderful vista view of Kanchenjunga), a variety of trekking options, and the opportunity to cool down after a stint in the plains. The town is also a jumping off point for travelers heading to Sikkim.

Mysore

Mysore is a major tourist city of Karnataka, India which served as the capital city of Mysore Princely Kingdom for nearly six centuries, from 1399 until 1947. The city of Mysore is known as the 'City Of Palaces'. There are number of buildings built by the Royal family. The city of Mysore is known as the 'City Of Palaces'. Mysore Palace, also known as Mysore Maharaja Palace is one among the largest palaces in India. This palace is one of the most famous tourist attractions in India after Taj Mahal.

Ajanta Ellora

A set of 29 caves, the Ajanta Ellora caves, inspired by Buddhist architecture, are among the finest examples of early Buddhist civilization. Located near the city of Aurangabad in Maharashtra, the Ajanta-Ellora Caves are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Ajanta and Ellora Caves are two different tourist destinations, which are often mentioned together. These two monuments are separated by a distance of approximately 100 kilometers they are often mentioned together since their aesthetics and importance are at par and the fact that both are situated in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra. While Ajanta is mostly about beautiful paintings made on cave walls on the theme of Buddhism, Ellora is all about sculpture and architecture belonging to three different religions of those times, prevailing in the country - Buddhism, Hinduism and Jain.